Automatic association of medical elements

Abstract

A real-time locating system (RTLS) identifies individuals within a predetermined area associated with an infusion pump based on detecting signals from respective wireless transmitters associated with the plurality of individuals, the plurality of individuals including at least one of a caregiver or patient. The identifiers for the plurality of individuals are provided for display and selection at the infusion pump, and a selection of a selected individual is received via the infusion pump, and an association between the infusion pump and the selected individual is recorded. Data records of actions or events associated with the infusion pump with each of the plurality of individuals are recorded while the plurality of individuals are being detected within the predetermined area.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 one or more receiving devices configured to detect one or more wireless transmitters; and 
 one or more computing devices configured to:
 identify a caregiver or patient within a predetermined area associated with an infusion pump based on a signal from a wireless transmitter associated with the caregiver or patient being detected by the one or more receiving devices; 
 provide to the infusion pump, without user intervention based on detecting that the caregiver or patient is within the predetermined area associated with the infusion pump, an identifier for the caregiver or patient determined to be within the predetermined area with the infusion pump, for display by the infusion pump; 
 receive a selection of the identifier from the infusion pump; and 
 automatically record, based on receiving the selection of the selected identifier, an association between the infusion pump and the caregiver or patient. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to:
 record data records of actions or events associated with the infusion pump with the caregiver or patient while the caregiver or patient is identified as being within the predetermined area at a time of a corresponding one of the actions or events. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to:
 receive an indication of an adjustment to one or more operating parameters of the infusion pump performed at the infusion pump; 
 identifying a plurality of caregivers associated with the adjustment based on wireless transmitters associated with the plurality of caregivers being detected by the one or more receiving devices at a time of the adjustment; and 
 creating, in response to the indication, a data record associating the adjustment with each of the plurality of caregivers at the time of the adjustment. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein each caregiver of the plurality of caregivers is assigned a privilege level related to the infusion pump,
 wherein a first caregiver of the plurality of caregivers has a first privilege level higher than a second caregiver of the plurality of caregivers, and 
 wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to authorize the adjustment of the one or more operating parameters according to the highest privileges of the plurality of caregivers identified within the predetermined area. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the second privilege level only authorizes operating parameter changes within predetermined limits on the operating parameters, and the first privilege level authorizes operating parameter changes outside of the predetermined limits. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more computing devices are configured to:
 receive an electronic prescription, the electronic prescription being associated with a medication and including one or more medication parameters for programing the infusion pump; and 
 electronically provide, over a network, the one or more medication parameters to the infusion pump over a network. 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to:
 provide, to the infusion pump for display by the infusion pump, identifiers for a plurality of patients within the predetermined area associated with the infusion pump based on respective wireless transmitters associated with the plurality of patients being detected by the one or more receiving devices; 
 receive, from the infusion pump, a selected patient of the plurality of patients; and 
 associate the selected patient with the infusion pump; and 
 confirm that the medication has been ordered for the selected patient before electronically providing the one or more medication parameters to the infusion pump. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to:
 identify the infusion pump based on a signal from a wireless transmitter associated with the infusion pump being detected by the one or more receiving devices; 
 identify a plurality of caregivers within the predetermined area associated with the infusion pump based on wireless transmitters associated with the plurality of caregivers being detected by the one or more receiving devices; 
 provide for selection at a infusion pump, identifiers for the plurality of caregivers detected by the one or more receiving devices; 
 receive, via the infusion pump, a selection of a first caregiver from the plurality of caregivers; and 
 associate, based on receiving the selection of the first caregiver, the infusion pump with the first caregiver; and 
 recording, based on associating the infusion pump with the first caregiver, actions performed on the infusion pump in association with an identification of the first caregiver. 
 
     
     
       9. A method, comprising:
 identifying an medical device based on a signal from a wireless transmitter associated with the medical device being detected within a range of a wireless receiving device; 
 identifying a plurality of individuals within a predetermined area associated with the medical device based on signals from respective wireless transmitters associated with the plurality of individuals being detected by the wireless receiving device, the plurality of individuals including at least one of a caregiver or patient; 
 providing, for display and selection at the medical device, identifiers for the plurality of individuals; 
 receiving, via the medical device, a selection of a selected individual of the plurality of individuals; and 
 recording, based on receiving the selection, an association between the medical device and the selected individual. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 recording data records of actions or events associated with the medical device with each of the plurality of individuals while the plurality of individuals are being detected by the wireless receiving device. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication of an adjustment to one or more operating parameters of the medical device performed at the medical device; 
 identifying a plurality of caregivers associated with the adjustment based on wireless transmitters associated with the plurality of caregivers being detected by the wireless receiving device at a time of the adjustment; and 
 creating, in response to the indication, a data record associating the adjustment with each of the plurality of caregivers at the time of the adjustment. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein each caregiver of the plurality of caregivers is assigned a privilege level related to the medical device,
 wherein a first caregiver of the plurality of caregivers has a first privilege level higher than a second caregiver of the plurality of caregivers, and 
 wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to authorize the adjustment of the one or more operating parameters according to the highest privileges of the plurality of caregivers detected by the wireless receiving device. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second privilege level only authorizes operating parameter changes within predetermined limits on the operating parameters, and the first privilege level authorizes operating parameter changes outside of the predetermined limits. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 providing, to the medical device for display by the medical device, identifiers for a plurality of patients within the predetermined area associated with the medical device based on respective wireless transmitters associated with the plurality of patients being detected by the wireless receiving device; 
 receiving, from the medical device, a selected patient of the plurality of patients; and 
 associating the selected patient with the medical device; 
 receiving an electronic prescription for the selected patient, the electronic prescription being associated with a medication and including one or more medication parameters for programming the medical device; and 
 confirming that the medication has been ordered for the selected patient; and 
 electronically providing, over a network, after confirming the medication has been ordered for the selected patient, the one or more medication parameters to the medical device over a network. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to:
 identify a plurality of caregivers within the predetermined area associated with the medical device based on wireless transmitters associated with the plurality of caregivers being detected by the wireless receiving device; 
 provide for selection at a medical device, identifiers for the plurality of caregivers detected by the wireless receiving device; 
 receive, via the medical device, a selection of a first caregiver from the plurality of caregivers; and 
 associate, based on receiving the selection of the first caregiver, the infusion pump with the first caregiver; and 
 recording, based on associating the medical device with the first caregiver, actions performed on the medical device in association with an identification of the first caregiver. 
 
     
     
       16. A medical device, comprising:
 one or more processors; and 
 a non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the medical device to:
 identify, without user intervention, a plurality of individuals within a predetermined area associated with the medical device based on signals from respective wireless transmitters associated with the plurality of individuals being detected by a wireless receiving device associated with the medical device, the plurality of individuals including at least one of a caregiver or a patient; 
 displaying identifiers for the plurality of individuals on a graphical display of the medical device; 
 receiving at the medical device, from the displayed identifiers, a selection of a selected individual with whom actions or events on the medical device are to be associated; and 
 recording, based on receiving the selection, an association between the medical device and the selected individual. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The medical device of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the medical device to:
 recording a data record of actions and events associated with the medical device with each of the plurality of individuals while the plurality of individuals are detected by the wireless receiving device. 
 
     
     
       18. The medical device of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the medical device to:
 receive an indication of an adjustment to one or more operating parameters of the medical device performed at the medical device; 
 identify a plurality of caregivers associated with the adjustment based on wireless transmitters associated with the plurality of caregivers being detected by the wireless receiving device at a time of the adjustment; and 
 create, in response to the indication, a data record associating the adjustment with each of the plurality of caregivers at the time of the adjustment. 
 
     
     
       19. The medical device of  claim 18 , wherein each caregiver of the plurality of caregivers is assigned a privilege level related to the medical device,
 wherein a first caregiver of the plurality of caregivers has a first privilege level higher than a second caregiver of the plurality of caregivers, and 
 wherein the adjustment of the one or more operating parameters is authorized according to the highest privileges of the plurality of caregivers detected by the wireless receiving device. 
 
     
     
       20. The medical device of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the medical device to:
 identify a medication within the predetermined area associated with the medical device based on a wireless transmitter associated with the medication being detected by the wireless receiving device; 
 displaying an identifier for the medication on a graphical display of the medical device receiving a selection of the medication via an input device of the infusion pump medical device; 
 confirming that the selected medication has been ordered for a patient associated with the medical device; and 
 automatically receiving, from a server by the medical device, based on receiving the selection of the medication and confirming that the medication has been ordered, operating parameters for configuring the medical device to administer the medication.